Tag Archives: Church

Posted on

Answering The Call

Whatever your vocation, it’s likely that you can be a part of the worldwide Bible translation team. God calls men and women to support Bible translation using the skills they have now. Currently, more than 5,000 people serve with Wycliffe, but hundreds of additional workers are still needed.

Wycliffe is working to grow this missions workforce, matching people to strategic jobs here in the U.S. and abroad. Most of Wycliffe’s personnel are missionaries raising their own financial support, while others are volunteers and paid employees.

  • As technology and social networking open doors for Wycliffe recruiters, pray that they will leverage these resources appropriately and engage even more people.
  • Pray that our recruiters will be spiritually empowered to communicate effectively with both individuals and large groups of people.

So, which avenue of involvement is right for you or someone you know? Check out the possibilities listed below and pray for many people to respond to these opportunities to support the mission and vision of Bible translation through their service.

Wycliffe Careers

There are many ways to join the worldwide Wycliffe team. New members attend training and then raise their own salaries from family, friends, and churches. A career with Wycliffe could lead to an assignment in Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Pacific region, or Europe.

The Global Service Program is a new opportunity for individuals to serve for six months to two years.  This program is ideal for individuals who want to serve for a limited time before making a long term commitment.

Some jobs (mostly in the U.S.) are paid positions. Wycliffe regularly posts open positions online. To view the list of current openings go to http://www.wycliffe.org/About/Careers.aspx.

A large number of people choose to volunteer their time and their skills in support of Bible translation. Volunteers apply through Wycliffe Associates, and contribute to projects all over the world.

Posted on

Supporting Vision 2025 Through Prayer

There is an African proverb that says, “one arm cannot surround a baobab tree.” Just as it takes a number of people to surround one of these gigantic trees, it will take the prayers of many to reach the last languages with the Word of God.


Wycliffe Bible Translators and its partners around the world are committed to Vision 2025—a desire to see a Bible translation program in progress in every language still needing one by the year 2025. Humanly speaking, this vision seems impossible. But the impossibility of it drives us closer to God, seeking His face, and in prayer, lifting up all aspects of this mission.

In 2002, the executive director of Wycliffe Global Alliance underscored the importance of prayer in the Bible translation task when he stated that “prayer is our greatest strategic response and our greatest resource.” In agreement with his declaration, all Wycliffe organizations renewed their resolve to model and prioritize prayer.

  • Ask God to call great numbers of prayer partners to faithfully support the Bible translation movement.
  • Pray for wisdom and creativity for Wycliffe USA’s Prayer Ministries team as they seek to promote and grow prayer programs, all while keeping costs low. Pray for resilience for staff conducting research to glean current information and prayer needs from around the world.

Below is a list of ways that you can join hands with us in prayer.

Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project

Commit to pray for a Bibleless people group. Today there are more than 2,000 languages still waiting for access to God’s Word in their own language. Through Wycliffe USA’s Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project you can sign up to prayerfully lay the foundation for a translation program to begin in one of these specific people groups.

Intercessor

Learn more about and pray for the worldwide work of Bible translation through the Intercessor, a bimonthly prayer letter produced by Wycliffe USA. It features specific prayer requests that will inform and direct your prayers for major strategic needs facing Wycliffe and its partners. Read it online, download the PDF, or sign up to receive it by mail or email; explore the options here.

The Finish Line

The Finish Line, an annual publication (also available online) lists Bible translation projects around the world that are nearing completion—those that are within three years or less of finishing. This is often when translation teams are faced with significant challenges and sometimes setbacks leading up to the completion of a Bible translation. We know that Satan will do everything he can to stop the spread of God’s Word, but we also know that we are called to rally on the battlefield of prayer. Click here to access the 2011 edition of The Finish Line.

Vision 2025 Prayer 24×7

Consider being part of a global community praying around the clock for Bible translation. Can you imagine an unbroken conversation with God about the work He has given us to do, and keeping that conversation going until Vision 2025 is fulfilled? Vision 2025 Prayer 24×7, a program of Wycliffe Global Alliance, invites churches, prayer groups, and individuals to join together and support Bible translation in prayer, every minute of every day. Sign up for a weekly time slot to pray at https://pray24x7.vision2025.net/.

Pray Today

And of course, invite your friends to this blog to read daily, current prayer requests related to the work of Bible translation! Together, with our prayers encircling the ministry of Bible translation, we know that God will do great things!

Posted on

BT & Culture Preservation

Cultural identity is strengthened and preserved through Bible translation

Translated Scripture is not the only benefit from a Bible translation program. Language assessment and development, literacy work, and the production of print and audio/visual materials in the local language—all parts of the Bible translation process—provide a number of community benefits.

One benefit is cultural preservation. When an alphabet is created for a minority people group, and their language is developed, speakers of the language have the tools for survival—a way to preserve their culture. Their history can be written and therefore documented. A dictionary and other books can be produced. Their ethnic identity can grow as they gain more confidence interacting with other people groups. And their written language can be recognized by their country’s government and speakers of majority languages.

  • Pray for speakers of the world’s minority languages who do not yet have a writing system. Ask God to call people from these language communities, and those who can partner with them to begin translation projects that lead to changed lives and the ability to preserve their cultures.

Please Take a moment to watch this short video about the preservation of cultures as an effect of Bible translation.

Resource: Wycliffe Pray Today Blog

Posted on

A Foundation For Other Ministries

Why is Bible translation important?

The work of Bible translation leads to more than just access to God’s Word in people’s heart languages. It’s the foundational building block for many ministries that follow. God’s Word in local languages is the cornerstone for church-planting efforts, and strengthens existing churches. Once the Book of Luke is translated into a language, the JESUS film can be dubbed into it. Faith Comes by Hearing can record newly translated Scriptures for the audio versions they provide to people groups everywhere. And of course, the language development involved in a Bible translation project leads to an improved quality of life for minority communities—the translation of health materials, teaching literacy, and much more.

So, you’ve heard us talk about the importance of Bible translation, but what about other Great Commission leaders and ministry organizations—what are they saying about it?

“We cannot do what we do in The JESUS Film Project without the work of Bible translation and Wycliffe Bible Translators. People deserve to hear the good news in their heart language. The partnership between The JESUS Film Project, Campus Crusade for Christ International, and Wycliffe is one of the means God is using to accomplish this and thereby help fulfill the Great Commission.”

—Steve Douglass, President, Campus Crusade for Christ International

“We believe that Bible Translation and Vision 2025 are critical to fulfilling the Great Commission ‘to make disciples of all nations (languages).’ We are honored to do audio recordings of all the Bibles that Wycliffe so faithfully translates. We are one of Wycliffe’s and Vision 2025’s greatest supporters, and we urge everyone to join us in supporting Wycliffe in their Vision 2025 with your lives and resources.

—Morgan Jackson, International Director, Faith Comes By Hearing

“God chooses to reveal Himself through His Word. It is crucial to have God’s Word available to every people group, especially in their own language. Therefore, Bible translation, the work of Wycliffe, is of utmost importance in fulfilling the Great Commission, not only to present the Gospel, but also for the discipling of new believers.”

—Rick Hicks, President, Operation Mobilization

“Many people think that cross-cultural church planting is very complicated. It isn’t. It involves essentially just two things: first, live among the people and win their friendship. Second, at the earliest possible moment get them into intimate contact with this book [the Bible].”

–J. Ronald Blue, Adjunct Professor in World Missions and Intercultural Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

“God is moving in unprecedented ways to reach a lost world as we move into the 21st century. Previously unreached people groups are systematically being engaged with the gospel and restricted nations are being impacted by creative access strategies. One of the most exciting factors in this global mission advance is the vision of Wycliffe Bible Translators to accelerate Bible translation. Innovative strategies are providing the Word of God to more people and in more languages, anchoring them in the truth of the Scripture. With God’s Word, indigenous leadership are equipped to nurture new churches and spread the gospel far beyond the limited witness of missionary personnel. As the Bible becomes more accessible our vision of the Great Commission being fulfilled becomes more of a reality.”

—Jerry Rankin, President, International Mission Board, SBC

“I rejoice in the work that Wycliffe is doing and heartily support Vision 2025. The translation of God’s Word into the heart language of every people group is critical for the accomplishment of the Great Commission.”

—George Murray, President of Columbia International University

  • Praise God for these organizations, their leaders and staff, and the opportunity to work together to reach the least, the last, and the lost for His glory!
Posted on

Not Without The Church

The role of the Church in Bible translation

“You mean there’s a plan in place to reach the ends of the earth in my lifetime?”

Beverly Donehoo, Wycliffe USA’s Church Relations Director, first read about Vision 2025 just over four years ago and wondered at Wycliffe’s bold vision. She knew she was staring eternal significance right in the face. But there was a problem. As she began to talk of Wycliffe and Vision 2025 to family and friends—many of them long-time believers—she usually got a blank stare in response. “Most of them had never even heard of Wycliffe, let alone Vision 2025,” she said.

Beverly began to wonder how Wycliffe would fulfill Vision 2025 without the Church. Drawn to the work of Wycliffe, Beverly soon applied, interviewed, and assumed a role specifically designed to engage the Church with Wycliffe’s vision and mission.

Never intending to complete the work of Bible translation without the Church, Wycliffe’s commitment has been and is today to assist the Church in the Great Commission tasks to which God has called all of us. The Church is central in God’s mission—Wycliffe affirms that world evangelism and discipleship is God’s charge to the Church.

So, what can a church do to get involved in Bible translation? The first step is prayer—to search God and know where He is leading. Subsequent steps call for action, but these will be different for each church. As Beverly sees it, “Some will be called to sponsor a translation; others will be called to raise up people to go on their behalf; and some will be called to encourage other churches to get involved.”

  • Pray for talented and passionate people to work with us.
  • Pray for sufficient funds to allow them to do His work.
  • Pray that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of the leaders of His Church to see His heart beating for the nations.”